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    <trip id="1222" created="2009-09-12 13:45:36" creator_id="10260" creator_name="Eva_S" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="With autumn rapidly approaching, I'd like to recommend a fantastic hike I took in Japan last October: the old JR Fukuchiyama Railroad hike in Japan's Hyogo prefecture. Abandoned in 1968, the train line now lies dormant except for the intrepid souls who've braved the hike each year ever since. The ghostly old railroad was originally abandoned to make way for a faster, more direct line and is now marked by cracked and weathered wooden railroad slats stretching through a series of deep, dark train tunnels. Spooky? Romantic? You decide. It's a relatively easy 6km hike that takes approximately 2 hours. Beautiful stretches of mountain-and-river countryside comfort you between passes through the dank tunnels. My friends and I went during the height of momiji - maple leaf - season. Armed with curry lunch boxes - oh, and flashlights! - we spent a lovely afternoon enjoying the last of the fall colors. 

Take the local train from Osaka station to Namaze (or take the express to Takarazuka and switch to the local for one stop). Turn right from the train exit, go through the tunnel and turn left at the main road. Next, walk approximately 400m and when you reach the gas station (about 200m), take this road leading down the river side. Follow the river until you reach the beginning of the track. The hike will take you to Takedao station. Reward yourself with a bowl of steaming udon in one of the station area's tiny family-owned restaurants. 

Ready? Set? Boo!

" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-12 14:17:23.982821" modifier_id="10260" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=34.738833,134.798133,reda%7C34.885931,132.802734,redb&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|34.738833,134.798133|34.885931,132.802734" status="0" sum_locations="2" sum_votes="2" title="Abandoned JR Fukuchiyama Railroad Hike" triplocation_id="546" />
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